---
title: "Thus Spake Zarathustra"
author: "Friedrich Nietzsche"
translator: "Thomas Common"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Philosophy"
section: 9 of 95
url: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/9/
cite: "Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common, Thus Spake Zarathustra, section 9. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/9/"
---

# Thus Spake Zarathustra

*Friedrich Nietzsche, tr. Thomas Common*

A prophet comes down from his mountain to teach the overman, in sermons and songs.

## 9. V. Joys and Passions

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/9/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/nietzsche-zarathustra/9/#p-N

[¶0] My brother, when thou hast a virtue, and it is thine own virtue, thou hast it in common with no one.

[¶1] To be sure, thou wouldst call it by name and caress it; thou wouldst pull its ears and amuse thyself with it.

[¶2] And lo! Then hast thou its name in common with the people, and hast become one of the people and the herd with thy virtue!

[¶3] Better for thee to say: “Ineffable is it, and nameless, that which is pain and sweetness to my soul, and also the hunger of my bowels.”

[¶4] Let thy virtue be too high for the familiarity of names, and if thou must speak of it, be not ashamed to stammer about it.

[¶5] Thus speak and stammer: “That is MY good, that do I love, thus doth it please me entirely, thus only do I desire the good.

[¶6] Not as the law of a God do I desire it, not as a human law or a human need do I desire it; it is not to be a guide-post for me to superearths and paradises.

[¶7] An earthly virtue is it which I love: little prudence is therein, and the least everyday wisdom.

[¶8] But that bird built its nest beside me: therefore, I love and cherish it—now sitteth it beside me on its golden eggs.”

[¶9] Thus shouldst thou stammer, and praise thy virtue.

[¶10] Once hadst thou passions and calledst them evil. But now hast thou only thy virtues: they grew out of thy passions.

[¶11] Thou implantedst thy highest aim into the heart of those passions: then became they thy virtues and joys.

[¶12] And though thou wert of the race of the hot-tempered, or of the voluptuous, or of the fanatical, or the vindictive;

[¶13] All thy passions in the end became virtues, and all thy devils angels.

[¶14] Once hadst thou wild dogs in thy cellar: but they changed at last into birds and charming songstresses.

[¶15] Out of thy poisons brewedst thou balsam for thyself; thy cow, affliction, milkedst thou—now drinketh thou the sweet milk of her udder.

[¶16] And nothing evil groweth in thee any longer, unless it be the evil that groweth out of the conflict of thy virtues.

[¶17] My brother, if thou be fortunate, then wilt thou have one virtue and no more: thus goest thou easier over the bridge.

[¶18] Illustrious is it to have many virtues, but a hard lot; and many a one hath gone into the wilderness and killed himself, because he was weary of being the battle and battlefield of virtues.

[¶19] My brother, are war and battle evil? Necessary, however, is the evil; necessary are the envy and the distrust and the back-biting among the virtues.

[¶20] Lo! how each of thy virtues is covetous of the highest place; it wanteth thy whole spirit to be ITS herald, it wanteth thy whole power, in wrath, hatred, and love.

[¶21] Jealous is every virtue of the others, and a dreadful thing is jealousy. Even virtues may succumb by jealousy.

[¶22] He whom the flame of jealousy encompasseth, turneth at last, like the scorpion, the poisoned sting against himself.

[¶23] Ah! my brother, hast thou never seen a virtue backbite and stab itself?

[¶24] Man is something that hath to be surpassed: and therefore shalt thou love thy virtues,—for thou wilt succumb by them.—

[¶25] Thus spake Zarathustra.